Page:Notes on equitation and horse training.djvu/52

 Increasing the gait from a trot on a circle furnishes therefore the means of fulfilling the two essential conditions just cited.

The aids to be used are both legs and the outside rein. The two legs, by steadily forcing an increased gait, push the horse into the gallop. A slight tension on the outside rein prevents the horse from swinging the haunches out, and consequently precludes a false lead or a disunited gallop.

The circle is the best means to give the gallop lesson when the squad to be drilled is rather large in numbers.

Besides the advantages already enumerated, troopers are enabled to work without interfering with each other, in spite of the difference in speed which manifests itself in the gallop of young horses. But if the number of troopers working in the hall is limited it is possible to secure the lead on the desired foot by increasing the gait from the trot at the corner, or on the completion of a flank movement, or at the end of a movement to change hands.

The gallop must be attained at the moment the horse begins the change of direction; for if he does not relinquish the trot until the change of direction is completed his haunches can easily swing out and the favorable opportunity is lost.